Scandals received the most attention during the 43rd federal election, but there’s plenty of ideas to ponder when going through the party platforms.

There’s broad consensus on what many of the issues are — housing costs, economic growth, affordability — but the proposed solutions reflect some deep differences between the main political parties.

None of the three major parties are promising to balance the books in a four-year term of government, but the Conservatives pledge to do it in five years.

Liberal leader Justin Trudeau is pictured while campaigning at a ralley in Calgary on Oct. 19, 2019. (Reuters)

EMPLOYMENT AND THE ECONOMY

Liberals: New Career Insurance Benefit with up to $15,900 in benefits over two years if long-term employee laid off because business closes; new federal minimum wage of $15 an hour starting in 2020; more labour protections for workers in sharing economy companies; up to $10,000 per new apprenticeship position; $40-million national workplace accessibility fund.

NDP: Universal qualifying threshold of 360 hours for EI, bridge gap between end of EI and start of seasonal work with permanent Extra Five Weeks project; increase wage replacement rate to 60% from 55%; no one on EI regular or special benefits gets less than $1,200 a month; $15 federal minimum wage.

TAXES

Liberals: No federal taxes on first $15,000 income, nearly $600 savings for the average family; new 10% luxury tax on cars, boats and personal aircraft worth over $100,000.

Liberals: First-Time Home Buyer incentive up to 10% off purchase price of home to set amount; national tax on foreign-owned vacant residential properties; new purpose-built accessible housing for homeless veterans of Canadian military and RCMP.

Conservatives: Remove stress test for mortgage renewals; extend amortization period on insured mortgages to 30 years from 25 years for first-time home buyers; make surplus federal real estate available to increase supply of housing.

Liberals: Increase Child Care Benefit by 15% for children under one years old, up to $1,000 more for families; maternity and parental EI benefits tax free, new 15-week leave for adoptive parents; Guaranteed Paid Family Leave for parent to stay home with child for one year; give part and full-time post secondary students up to $1,200 more in Canada Student Grants; double Child Disability Benefit.

Conservatives: Maternity and parental EI benefits tax-free; new 15-week tax-free EI adoption leave for new parents; increase Adoption Expense Tax Credit to $2,000 and make it refundable; new refundable 15% Children’s Fitness Tax Credit for sports and fitness programs up to $150 plus ability to claim an addition $500 for a disabled child; refundable 15% Children’s Arts and Learning Tax Credit up to $75 per child for expense related to arts and learning activities; increase government’s contribution to RESPs.

Liberals: 10% boost in Old Age Security after age 74; increase CPP survivor benefit by 25% providing up to $2,080 more a year.

Conservatives: Expand Age Credit by $1,000 saving a lower-income couple up to $300 a year and an individual up to $150 a year on top of Universal Tax Cut; require all federally-regulated companies to report on solvency of pension funds.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, hugs Olivia Chow, widow of former NDP leader Jack Layton as they make an announcement at Jack Layton Park during a campaign stop in Hudson, Que., on Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2019.Nathan Denette /
THE CANADIAN PRESS

NDP: Develop national care standards for home and long-term care; a national dementia strategy and elder abuse prevention plan; stop payout of dividends and bonuses when company pension plan underfunded; put pensioners at front of the line when a company goes bankrupt.

HEALTH

Liberals: Every Canadian has access to family doctor/primary health care team; take “next steps” to pharmacare; $30 million for pediatric cancer research.

Conservatives: Health and Social Program Guarantee to increase federal transfers.

Liberals: Tax on carbon sources like gasoline and natural gas; up to $40,000 interest-free loan for homeowners/landlords for energy retrofits; new $5 billion Clean Power Fund to help companies switch to electricity; ban on single-use plastics.

Conservatives: Focus on immigrants who can fill skills shortages; work to keep international students in Canada after graduation; allow Quebec greater autonomy over immigration; remove cap on privately sponsored refugees; end “illegal border crossings” at unofficial points of entry.

Liberals: Create a director of Terrorism prosecutions; new regulations for social media platforms to remove illegal content including hate speech and terrorist propaganda within 24 hours; renew Canada’s commitment to peacekeeping efforts.

Conservatives: Give CSIS more power to disrupt terrorist threats; streamline listing of terrorist entities; enter discussions with the U.S to join Ballistic Missile Defence program and modernize NORAD alliance.

NDP: Ensure social media platforms remove online hate.

NATION BUILDING AND BEYOND

Liberals: Create a national infrastructure fund for projects that benefit all Canadians; continue plans to ensure high-speed access to all Canadians by 2030; appoint only bilingual judges to Supreme Court of Canada.

Conservatives: Designate grave sites of former prime ministers and governors general as national historic sites; formally recognize Jerusalem as capital of Israel; require national security review of foreign takeover of Canadian company; use Magnitsky sanctions law against worst human rights offenders; provide military defensive aid to Ukraine’s military; cut foreign aid by 25%

NDP: Mixed member proportional representation with a referendum to confirm; lower voting age to 16; hold social media platforms responsible for spread of fake news; tougher Conflict of Interest Act penalties, ban cash-for-political access events; launch an independent public inquiry into SNC-Lavalin scandal; work with provinces to abolish Senate.

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